Circular marking device



March 12, 1963 w. R. KING 3,080,812

CIRCULAR MARKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. William R. King AT TORNEZS March 12, 1963 w. R. KING CIRCULAR MARKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21. 1959 INVENTOR. William R. King WWW 4 ATTORNEYS n ited States I atet 3,080,812 CIRCULAR MARKING DEVICE William R. King, Wiikinshurg, Pa., assignor to Jas. H. Matthews & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 835,326 9 Claims. (Cl. fill-36) This invention relates to a'circular marking device and particularly a circular marking device for marking elongated Work moving relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device rotates. Such a markingdevice may be used for marking elongated work of a variety of shapes. An example is pipe or tubing. For purposes of explanation and illustration in describing the invention and its application it will be considered as employed for the marking of tubing.

Heretofore in the marking of tubing by a circular marking device involving moving the tubing relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device rotates it has been customary to employ a marking device of different shape for each diameter of tubing being marked. The marking die or roll has been shaped to a curvature matching that of the .tubing being marked. The tubing has been pressed against the marking die by a fixed back-up roll mounted in opposed relationship to the marking die. The back-up roll has also been shaped to a curvature matching that of the tubing being marked. 'It has been necessary to change both the marking roll and the back-up roll with each change in the diameter of the tubing being marked. Also any irregularity in the tubing resulted in undesirable deformation of the tubing when passing between the marking roll and the back-up roll since those rolls acted on the tubing in unyielding fashion I g I provide a circular marking device obviating the disadvantages of'theprior devices as above referred to. My marking device is adapted for use to mark elongated work of a range of transverse dimensions, or, in the case of tubing of circular external cross section, of a range of outside diameters. Also I make provision for compensating for irregularities in the work being marked'so that the Work will not be undesirably deformed during the marking operation. Myimproved marking device provides for optimum engagement and advancement of the work at relatively high speed and marks the work uniformly withoutundesirable deformation thereof despite irregularities therein. .;Neither the marking roll-nor the back-up roll needbe-changedwhen-the transverse dimension of'the work being marked is changed within a considerable range. l 7

I provide a circular marking device for marking elongated work moving relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith asthe marking device. rotates comprising a circular marking die mounted for rotation, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby and guide means having yieldable portions disposed at opposite sides of the die and projecitinggenerallyradially beyond the periphery of the die for guiding the work relatively to the die, said portions of the guide means being adapted to yield some- I what to permit the work to engage'the marking means while guiding the work. 1 The yieldable portions of the guide means may have beads extending over the side portions of the periphery of the die generally toward the marking means on the die to facilitate guiding of work of relatively small transverse dimension.

I preferably provide a mass of yieldable material mounted for rotation and mount the circular marking die upon the mass of yieldable material which permits ad- I justment of the position of the die to compensate for irregularities in the work. Desirably a bushing is mounted for rotation and the mass of yieldable material is disposed upon the peripheral surface of the bushing and the circular marking die is mounted upon the 'yieldable ma: terial.

In a preferred form my circular marking device comprises a bushing mounted for rotation, a band of yieldable material disposed peripherally about the bushing, a circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the band of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the die to compensate for irregularities in the work, and guide members of yieldable material disposed at opposite sides of the die and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the die for guiding the work relatively to the die, the projecting portions of the guide members being adapted to yield somewhat to permit the work to engage the marking means while guiding the Work. At least one of the guide members is preferably integral with the band of yieldable material. I preferably apply plates to the outsides of the guide members and fasten together the die, guide members andplates to constitute a composite generally roll shaped element. band are employed they are fastened together with the die, guide members and plates to constitute a composite generally roll shaped element.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain' present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention in which FiGURE l is a perspective view of a circular marking roll; v 7 FIGURE 2 is an end view ofa circular marking device employing a marking roll as shown in FIGURE 1;

FiGURE 2a is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing f the marking device operating on a tube of smaller size than-that shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the circular marking roll shown in FIGURE 1;

7 FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central crosssectional view through a modified form of marking roll showing itsadaptahility for marking relatively small diameter tubing;

FIGURE 5. is a View similar to FIGURE showing the adaptability of the roll illustrated in FIGURE 4 fo1' j marking relatively large diameter tubing;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing how my circular marking device compensates for sidewise or snake varia tions in the work; and

FIGURE 7 is a' diagram showing how my circular marking device compensates for vertical or wave variatrons in the work.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, one

form of'my markin'g roll is shown in perspective in FIG- URE 1 and'is shown together'with a back-up roll in FIGURES 2' and 2a and also is shown disassembled in the exploded view of FIGURE 3. designated generally by reference numeral -2 and the back-up roll by reference numeral 3, the machine or device comprising the roilsl and t3 constituting my circular marking device.

The principal element of the marking roll is the circular marking die designated generally by reference numeral 4, itself in the form of a roll having a hub receiving portion 5 and a relatively thin flange portion 6 whose periphery is somewhat concaved as shown at 7 and has If the bushing and The marking roll is marking means 8 therein, normally in the form of raised letter or other form die means.

I provide a bushing 9 of bronze or any other suitable material adapted to be applied to a shaft. The bushing has a bore 9a therethrough to receive the shaft. Disposed about the bushing is a mass of yieldable material 10 shown as in the form of a band of rubber or rubberlike plastic. The band 10 may be molded onto the bushing 9; in any event the bushing and band are as sembled in fixed relationship and to all intents and purposes constitute a single element. The bushing serves to mount the marking roll for rotation while the band serves, as will be explained, as a hub to mount the die 4.

The external diameter of the band 10 is such that the band has a snug fit in the bore 11 of the die 4. The bushing 9 with the band 10 thereon is inserted into the bore 11 of the die 4 and serves as a mounting for the die. The die is thus mounted in fixed rotative position when not subjected to stress. When, however, the die is subjected to certain stresses as will be explained the material of the band It) yields and allows the die to recede or tilt. Guide members of yieldable material and which may be of the same material as the band 10 are applied at the outside faces of the die 4. One of the guide members is designated generally by reference numeral 12 and the other by reference numeral 13. In the structure shown the guide member 13 is formed integrally with the band 10 although it may be formed separately. Each of the guide members 12 and 13 has a recess 14 receiving the portion of the die 4 at one side of the die, the hub receiving portion 5 being symmetrical about the central plane of the die. The inner surfaces 15 of the guide members lie substantially flush against the side faces of the flange portion 6 of the die. The guide member 12 has a bore 16 of substantially the same diameter as the bore 11 of the die 4 so that the end of the composite element constituted by the bushing 9 and the band 19 fits in the bore 16 and the outer face of that composite element is substantially flush with the outer face of the guide member 12. Similarly the outer face of the guide member 13 is substantially flush with the opposed outer face of the composite element consisting of the bushing 9 and the band 10.

Plates 17 having central openings 17a therethrough are applied to the assembly of the bushing, band, die and guide members'and lie against the outside faces of the guide members although they are of less diameter than the guide members. The parts are held in assembled relationship by screws 18a passing through holes 18 in the plates and threaded into threaded holes 19 in the bushing 9.

The guide members 12 and.l3 are of greater diameter than the die 4 and preferably have their peripheral edges inclined inwardly toward the periphery of the'die member as shown in the drawings. FIGURE 2 shows a tube 20 being marked and shows how the tube.is guided by the guide members 12 and 13 to be marked by the mark ing means 8 on the die 4. The back-up roll 3 is mounted upon a shaft having a fixed axis and the periphery of the back-up roll 3 is concaved as-shown at 21 to a diameter somewhat larger than the largest diameter of tubing to be marked using the marking roll with which the backing-up roll cooperates. The backing-up roll insures that the tubing is pressed'against the marking roll as it passes between the backing-up roll and the marking roll, and the guide members 12 and 13 yield under the pressure exerted against them by thetubing being marked as they guide the tubing into proper relationship. with the marking means 8. The material of the guide means will yield. to whatever degree is required, depending upon the diameter of the tubing being marked, to bring the tubing into position so that the marking means 8 will properly act thereon. The marking may be effected by indenting or engraving the surface of the tubing or by printing thereon, in which latter case inking means not shown are provided for inking the marking means. Although the shaft upon which the back-up roll 3 is mounted is disposed in fixed position so that it is nonyielding it is nevertheless adjustable toward and away from the shaft upon which the marking roll is mounted to insure application of the correct backing-up pressure to tubing of the particular diameter being marked at any given time.

FIGURE 2a shows a relatively small tube 22 which is adapted to be marked by use of the marking and backing-up rolls which are the same as in FIGURE 2. When marking the relatively small diameter tubing as in FIG- URE 2a the backing-up roll is adjusted much closer to the marking roll than in the position in which the backing-up roll is shown in FIGURE 2 since the position of the backing-up roll in that figure is determined by the relatively large tube 20. Since the curvature of the c0ucave periphery of the backing-up roll 3 is somewhat greater than the curvature of the largest size tube to be marked the central portion of the periphery of the backing-up roll will engage and press against whatever size tube is being marked to insure proper cooperative relationship between the tube and the marking means 8 with accompanying yielding or deformation of the guide members 12 and 13 as above explained.

The rolls of the circular marking device may be driven to advance the work therethrough or they may be turned by the action of the work thereon, other means being provided for advancing the work through the circular marking device. In either case the guide members of yieldable material in addition to properly positioning the work for marking exert a substantial grip on the work and prevent slippage between the work and the marking means 8 which might deface thernarking. This is true whether the marking roll is driven through the application of power to the shaft upon which it is mounted or whether it is turned by the action of the advancing work which is imparted to the guide members 12 and 13 and thence to the remaining elements of the marking roll since all of those elements are fastened together as explained above.

My marking roll accommodates or compensates for irregularities in the tubing being marked. Sidewise variations in the tubing are called snake variations while vertical variations are called wave variations. A tube may have a combination of snake and wave variations. The variations may be caused by non-uniformity of the diameter of the tube or by imperfections of various kinds occurring either in manufacture of the tube or in handling of the tube after it is manufactured.

FIGURE 6 shows how themarking roll compensates for snake variations in the tubing. The yieldable band 10 permits the roll to tilt slightly under the action of snake variations maintaining the tubing in proper cooperative relationship with the marking means}. Wave varia tions are compensated toras illustrated in FIGURE 7, the band 10 permitting the marking die to yield or recede away from a downward wave in the tube. Also the guide members 12 and 13 which are of yieldable material at least at their peripheral portions cooperate with the yieldable band 10 to insure continuous proper gripping and guiding of the work while the irregularities or imperfection in the work are passing through the circular marking device. FIGURES 4 and 5 show a marking rollwhich is the same as the marking roll 'shown'in the remaining figures except that the guide members 12' and 13' of FIGURES 4 and 5 are each provided with a head 23 extending over the side portionsof the periphery of the die 4' generally toward the marking means 8' on the die to facilitate guiding of work of relatively small transverse dimension. This is illustrated particularly in FIGURE 4 in which a relatively small tube 22 is shown as being marked by the marking means 8' of the die 4. The tube 22' is so small in relation to the size of the marking roll that without the provision of the beads 23 it could conceivably simply wedge the guide members 'apart without being efiectively guided thereby. The tube 22' is supported mainly by the beads 23 which yield as the tube 22 is pressed by the back-up roll toward the die and permit effective marking of the tube. FIGURE 5 shows a relatively large diameter tube being marked by the same die as is shown in FIGURE 4. In this case the beads 23 have no special function as the guiding of the relatively large diameter tube is efiected mainly the portions of the guide members 12' and 13 outwardly from the beads 23.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

,I claim:

I. A circular marking device for marking elongated Work advancing relatively to the marking device comtangential contact with which the work advances, the roll having marking means at its periphery, and means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the hub of yieldable material and the circular marking roll mounted thereupon being mounted for rotation in such direction that the marking means at the periphery of the roll against which the work is pressed move'in the direction of advance of the work the yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the roll to compensate for irregularities in the work.

2. A circular marking device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the-marking device comprising a bushing, yieldable material disposed upon the peripheral surface of the bushing and constituting a hub, a circular marking r'oll mounted upon the hub of yieldable material in generally tangential contact with which the work advances, the roll having marking means at its periphery, and means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the bushing and hub of yieldable material and the circular marking means at the periphery of the roll against which the work is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work, the yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the roll to compensate for irregularities in the work.

3. A circular marking device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device comprising a hub of yieldable material, a circular marking roll mounted upon the hub of yieldable material in generally tangential contact with which the work advances, the roll having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the hub of yieldable material 1 and the circular marking roll mounted thereupon being means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the hub of yieldable material and the circular marking roll mounted thereupon being mounted for rotation in such direction that the marking means at the periphery of theroll against which the work is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work, said hub of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the roll to compensate for irregularities in the work, and guide means having yieldable portions disposed at opposite sides of the roll and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the roll for guiding the work relatively to the roll, said portions of the guide means being adapted is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work,

said hub of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the roll to compensate for irregularities in the work, and guide means having yieldable portions disposed at opposite sides of the roll and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the roll for guiding the Work relatively to the roll, said portion of the guide means being adapted to yield somewhat to permit the work to engage the marking means while guiding the work.

4. A circular marking device for making elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device comprising a hub of yieldable material, a circular marking roll mounted upon the hub of yieldable material in generally tangential contact with which the work advances, the roll having marking means at its periphery,

to yield somewhat to permit the work to engage the marking means while guiding the work, said portions of the guide means having beads extending over 'the side portions of the periphery of the roll generally toward the marking means on the roll to facilitate guiding of work.

5. A circular marking device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking de- -vice rotates comprising a mass ofyieldable material, a

circular marking die mounted upon the mass of yieldable material, the die having marking means atits periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the mass of yieldable material and the circular marking die mounted thereupon being mounted for rotation in'such guide meansat at least one side of the die beingintegral t with the mass of yieldable material. 7

6; A circular marking. device for-marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device rotates comprising a bushing, a band of yieldable material disposed peripherally about the bushing, a circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst Work to be marked thereby, the bushing and band of yieldable material and the circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material being mounted for rotation in such direction thatthe marking means at the periphery of the die against which work is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work, the band of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the die to compensate for irregularities 'in the Work, and guide members of yieldable material disposed at opposite sides of the die and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the die for guid- ,ingthe work relatively to the die, the projecting portions to .permit the work to of the guide members being adapted to yield somewhat guiding the Work. j v

7. A circular marking-device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device rotates comprising a bushing, a band of yieldable material disposed peripherally about the bushing, a circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagain st work to be marked thereby, the bushing and band of yieldable material and the circular marking die engage the marking means while mounted upon the band of yieldable material being mounted for rotation in such direction that the mark ing means at the periphery of the die against which work is pressed to move in the direction of advance of the work, the band of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the die to compensate for irregularities in the work, and guide members of yieldable material disposed at opposite sides of the die and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the die for guiding the work relatively to the die, the projecting portions of the guide members being adapted to yield somewheat to permit the work to engage the marking means while guiding the work, at least oneof the guide members being integral with the band of yieldable material.

8. A circular marking device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device rotates comprising a circular marking die, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the circular marking die being mounted for rotation in such direction that the marking means at the periphery thereof against which the work is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work, guide members of yieldable material disposed at opposite sides of the die and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the die for guiding the work relatively to the die, the projecting portions of the guide members being adapted to yield somewhat to permit the work to engage the marking means while guiding the work, plates applied to the outsides of the guide members and means fastening together the die, guide members and plates to constitute a composite gencrally roll shaped element.

9. A circular marking device for marking elongated work advancing relatively to the marking-device in generally tangential contact therewith as the marking device 'rotates' comprising a bushing, a band of yieldable material disposed peripherally about the bushing, a circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material, the die having marking means at its periphery, means opposed to the marking means for pressing thereagainst work to be marked thereby, the bushing and band of yieldable material and the circular marking die mounted upon the band of yieldable material being mounted for rotation in such direction that the marking means at the periphery of the die against which the work is pressed move in the direction of advance of the work, the band of yieldable material permitting adjustment of the position of the die to compensate for irregularities in the work, guide members of yieldable material dis posed at opposite sides of the die and projecting generally radially beyond the periphery of the die for guiding the work relatively to the die, the projecting portions of the guide members being adapted to yield somewhat to permit the Work to engage the marking means while guiding the work, plates applied to the outsides of the guide members and means fastening together the bushing, band, die, guide members and plates to constitute a composite generally roll shaped element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,450 Manss Feb. 22, 1921 1,370,851 Sligh Mar. 8, 1921 1,549,595 Merrill Aug. 11, 1925 2,326,670 Patterson Aug. 10, 1943 2,326,671 Patterson Aug. 10, 1943 2,326,954 MacAnlis Aug. 17, 1943 2,424,006 Verrinder July 15, 1947 2,631,535 Mumma Mar. 17, 1953 2,674,944 Kalstrorn Aug. '13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 486,292 Great Britain June 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 O8O,8l2 I March 12, 1963 William King It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 9 after mainly" insert by line 29 after "work" insert a comma; line 67, for "portion" read portions line 70 for "making" read -'marking column 7 line 4 strike out "to" Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST we SWIDER Attesting Officer AB l; Commissionerof Patents 

1. A CIRCULAR MARKING DEVICE FOR MAKING ELONGATED WORK ADVANCING RELATIVELY TO THE MARKING DEVICE COMPRISING A HUB OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL, A CIRCULAR MARKING ROLL MOUNTED UPON THE HUB OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL IN GENERALLY TANGENTIAL CONTACT WITH WHICH THE WORK ADVANCES, THE ROLL HAVING MARKING MEANS AT ITS PERIPHERY, AND MEANS OPPOSED TO THE MARKING MEANS FOR PRESSING THEREAGAINST WORK TO BE MARKED THEREBY, THE HUB OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL AND THE CIRCULAR MARKING ROLL MOUNTED THEREUPON BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SUCH DIRECTION THAT THE MARKING MEANS AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE ROLL AGAINST WHICH THE WORK IS PRESSED MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF ADVANCE OF THE WORK THE YIELDABLE MATERIAL PERMITTING ADJUSTMENT OF THE POSITION OF THE ROLL TO COMPENSATE FOR IRREGULARITIES IN THE WORK. 